Stepmother accused of strangling six-year-old girl faces DEATH PENALTY

A stepmother accused of murdering her boyfriend’s young daughter could face the death penalty for her alleged murder – as DailyMail.com first imagines her with her father and alleged killer.

Bella Fontenelle, 6, was found dead in a chlorine drum outside her mother’s home in Harahan, Louisiana, on Wednesday.

She stayed with her father, Michael Fontenelle, in the house he shared with his longtime girlfriend Bunnak “Hannah” Landon, 43.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office says Landon strangled and beat the little girl before stuffing her body into a 10-gallon bucket and dragging it half a mile on a wagon before dumping it on Bella’s mother’s lawn.

Chilling footage shows a woman, who police believe is Landon, calmly dragging the bucket toward Jennifer Zeledon’s home.

Photos obtained by DailyMail.com show Michael and Bella smiling next to Landon, with the schoolgirl and her stepmother dressed in “princess dresses.”

Landon – aka Bunnak Lim – has been charged with first-degree murder and obstruction of justice and is currently on suicide watch at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center.

She could face the death penalty if found guilty of first-degree murder, with court documents obtained by DailyMail.com showing her lawyers have requested access to a psychiatrist.

Authorities confirmed they had questioned and ruled out both parents as suspects in Bella’s death.

Michael alerted police that his girlfriend and young daughter went missing from the property on Wednesday morning. His eldest daughter, 7, was still in the house.

Police then went to her mother’s house, just a block away, and discovered the bucket and Bella’s remains – lying in a fetal position.

Landon was arrested after authorities tracked her down to a local hospital. She had turned herself in to police headquarters shortly after midnight and officers had taken her away for evaluation.

It’s unclear why the missing person’s report wasn’t linked to Landon earlier, not what she said or did to cause officers to seek an evaluation of her mental state.

St Matthew The Apostle School canceled classes for the rest of the week following the horrific discovery.

Coroner Gerry Cvitanovich said the cause of death was “manual strangulation, with blunt force trauma to the head.” Police have not yet confirmed a motive.

Her family has one GoFundMe to raise money for funeral expenses for the “amazing little soul” who was “taken too soon.”

Landon’s arrest comes after several incidents between her and Bella’s mother, Jennifer, dating back several years.

In 2021, Landon filed a restraining order against Bella’s mother Jennifer and aunt Evelyn, claiming she feared for her safety.

The injunction was ultimately denied, but court documents viewed by DailyMail.com show that there was an altercation during a swim meet for Bella.

Bagert Law attorney Cody Loggins, who represented Landon in her bid for a restraining order, told DailyMail.com that she fired the company after it was thrown out by a judge.

He added, “Michael Fontenelle and Landon both gave statements and were cross-examined at the hearing.

“When she came into the office, she seemed to care deeply about Bella. She was supportive. She said she cared and was excited about her swimming.

“The problem was that there was a fight over who was holding the child. Hannah held Bell and I believe her mother came by and wanted to take the child.

“Hannah said it was Michael’s decision, it was his weekend so it was up to him. The quarrel followed afterwards.

“Michael stood on the other side of the pool and gave a statement about what he saw and what he didn’t see. He supported Hannah and was her best man when he gave evidence.

“There had been other altercations and arguments between the mothers and Hannah, as well as the mother’s sister.

“The facts did not provide enough evidence for the judge to approve the order, so it was rejected.

“Ultimately, that incident had nothing to do with the child, it had to do with preventing one adult from attacking another.”

DailyMail.com police reports show that Jennifer called the police after Landon refused to give her a hug.

Jennifer’s sister Evelyn told police that Landon wouldn’t allow Jennifer to see her daughter because it was Michael’s “custody day.”

He said her mother was allowed to hug her for “one minute,” and the family claimed Landon then began recording the incident.

Evelyn and Landon then got involved in a physical altercation, claiming that Landon pulled Evelyn’s hair and “scratched” her face.

At the time, officers described Landon as “extremely reluctant,” before claiming she was “unprovoked.”

When speaking to officers, Michael reportedly told them that he did not witness the incident and thus was “unable to make a statement or corroborate Landon’s account.”

Several months later, FOX 8 reports, the two women got into another physical altercation during one of the daughters’ soccer games.

In tribute to the schoolgirl, her aunt Bianca Cano wrote in a GoFundMe, “This senseless and heinous act has destroyed my family forever.

“No words can describe the pain that goes through our bodies,” she continued. “It’s really inhumane.”

“The world is so unjust. You have been given to us for six wonderful years. You were beyond perfection.

“Your beautiful little voice, your funny personality, the way you danced, the way you were so delicate and vulnerable, your smile, your laughter, the way you expressed yourself. I could go on and on about how wonderful this little soul was.’

She then went on to “thank everyone again from the bottom of our hearts during these terrible, difficult days.”

“No one should ever have to go through what we’re going through [much] less a mother and a father who have to put a child to rest.’

Landon will next appear in court on May 9.